IRC Hosts Stakeholders’ Meeting to Harmonize National Guidelines on WASH

IRC Ghana organised a meeting with representatives from the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) sector on Friday, April 14, 2022, in the Asutifi North District. The purpose of the gathering was to raise awareness of this extensive policy document and to gather feedback on the draught harmonised National Guidelines for WASH service delivery.

Staff from the decentralised departments, the district health directorate, the district education office, managers of small-town water systems, local mechanics, and a few representatives of the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation grantees in the District were among the attendees at the meeting.

The lack of a single comprehensive policy document makes it challenging for district officials to oversee and interpret the provision of WASH services, and this gap has also impacted the quality and standard of WASH services, according to Jeremiah Atengdem, an IRC Ghana water specialist. The new draught document’s objective is to offer detailed instructions for the administration, use, and upkeep of WASH facilities at the district level.

The draught addresses the roles and duties of several WASH stakeholders, including families, schools, hospitals, the private sector, and Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs). The meeting will define the roles of different parties and avert conflicts, said Bismark K. Asante, the planning officer for the Asutifi North District.